The kiss was overwhelming. Her knees buckled but luckily Jacob could sense that and he wrapped his strong arms around her waist. She was in another world when he kissed her. It was as if they were the only two people in the universe. She was almost to the point of passing out when he pulled away from her. She could see there were tears in his eyes.
"I didn't want you to see those" he said as she wiped them, gently. "So we're leaving. I can't imagine being away from this place now. I mean I know I am the reason we are leaving but..." he looked up and then down to the river bank, the smile that had crept onto his tearstained face warmed her.
"But yeah, it will sad to be around other people. I guess I'll have to wear more than just a t-shirts, huh?"
"Oh, we are bringing some t shirts" he said and scooped her up into his arms. "So, I am going to take you to La Push. You won't believe how beautiful it is…" he told her all about it as they walked to the little house. She closed her eyes, trying to picture it. Her fears slowly subsiding as she heard how happy he was. She knew they would always have these woods and that she could bear to share him a bit. It was unfair of her to try and keep him all to herself. She knew that he loved her. She knew that he knew how much she loved him. Last night she had given him all of her and he had taken it. She would treasure their wedding night always. They had become one person-one heart. There was nothing that could come between them now.
Jacob closed up the house and she was grateful to be alone to pack her belongings. She would not take everything; they could not carry much on their journey out of the woods. She filled her suitcase with a few of her favorite things. She pulled the painting of the wolf from the wall. She knew they would be back here but she could not bear the thought of leaving that. She had a bank account in town. They could stop and rent a car and get some clothes for Jacob, maybe he would like a steak as well. She kept trying to distract herself with plans so she wouldn't be able to think of leaving this home. She had been here for so long. All alone. Safe. What if something happened to Jacob? What if he saw Bella? This precious Bella, the reason he had run in the first place. What if she had not changed and she wanted him back? What would she do then? My God, she had never thought that until now. Doubt was creeping into her brain now at an alarming pace. What if the pack was angry and they hurt Jacob? What would she do around a pack of werewolves if they weren't angry at Jacob, if they welcomed him-would they even like her? She felt her breathe growing weak and she slowly lowered herself onto the floor. She breathed in. She breathed out. Trying to calm herself. Jacob loves you. Jacob married you, just last night. Nothing will happen to you.
"Of course nothing will happen to you, baby. Of course I love you." She had not realized that last part had been out loud.
God, had all of it?
The look on his face as she met eyes with him was terror. He gathered her into a warm embrace. Rocking her gently, she let the warmth overcome the fear. It washed over her in waves and her breathing regulated. She wrapped her arms tight around him, desperately clinging to the one thing she knew.
"Baby?" he whispered, she could tell he was unsure what to say "you scared me. You haven't been like this since I came to you…as me, I mean. Is it because we are going because I swear to you we don't have to go. I swear. I don't want you to be like this." Her heart broke; she had caused him to cry again.
"I don't know what happened. I guess I just was overwhelmed by all of it. I just started thinking about Bella and the pack and how I haven't been around anybody in so long. What if no one likes me?" she said. Realizing how foolish it all sounded now that she was in his arms.
"Who wouldn't like you?" he pulled her chin up so that she was looking into his smiling face. "We'll just sit here a minute and then we'll see, how's that?"
"No baby. Let's go now. The minute you took me into your arms I knew I was ok. You give me more strength than I deserve. I don't know how I'll ever be able to give you back what you've given me"
"Oh Jolene. I've got you, that's all I need."
They made it into town by night fall. He told her it would be faster if she let him phase, let the wolf take her out of the woods. Maybe she would even feel comfort having her old buddy around, he had teased. She watched her Jacob turn into her wolf with tears in her eyes. It was truly magical. She knew she must've wandered into a fairy tale. Riding on his back had made the journey easier. She was so caught up in the magic that she never even thought about her fears. The woods had gone by in a blur and for that she was grateful.
They had started the journey now. Jacob had been pleased there had been funds available enough for whatever this sports car was they had rented. She didn't care about cars but the look on his face when they had seen this one had been enough to convince her. They had gone and bought a few outfits at the local mall. Well, she had mainly done it all. Jacob didn't have shoes or proper clothes to wear inside anywhere. So she grabbed him some jeans and t-shirts. She bought him a nice outfit to wear once they got to La Push; she thought the light blue button up would look lovely against his skin. She had bought herself an amazing dress to wear. If she was going to show up on the doorstep of her husband's old home, it might as well be in a black dress that hugged her curves all the way to the floor-as Jacob liked to say.
"Hey-so should you call and let them know we are coming?"
"No honey, they will know. I told you that we can hear each other's thoughts. When we get closer, I will let them know." He had grown solemn as they got closer.